Door spring anchoring means

ABSTRACT

A mounting guideway or channel is secured to a supporting structure (door jamb) by one or more lag bolts at the appropriate location. A strut slidably received within the bracket guideway or channel is connected to the door spring and includes a bolt interconnecting the strut member and a locking nut slidably held in the guideway. The end of a pinch bar or other similar tool is inserted through an opening in the strut member and received within one of a set of openings in the bracket, after which the tool is manipulated to lever the strut to a position placing the spring in the desired amount of tension. While maintaining the spring at the required tension, the bolt in the strut is tightened securing the strut member to the locking nut and thereby fixing the strut member and spring at one position.

United States Patent 1 Pyka et a]. I

[451 Sept. 17, 1974 DOOR SPRING ANCHORING MEANS [76] Inventors: John P. Pyka, 6903 Columbus Ave.,

Van Nuys, 91405; Robert J. Pyka, 22188 Canones Cir., Saugus. both of Calif. 9l350 [22] Filed: Mar. 2, 1973 21 Appl, No; 337,463

[52] U.S. Cl. 267/69, 267/73 [51] Int. Cl Fl6f l/l2 [58] Field of Search 267/69, 7O, 71, 72, 73, 267/74 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,272,496 9/l966 Halopoff et al 263/74 3,741,558 6/1973 Ochs 267/73 Primary Examiner-James B. Marbert Attorney, Agent, or FirmGeorge J. Netter [57] ABSTRACT A mounting guideway or channel is secured to a supporting structure (door jamb) by one or more lag bolts at the appropriate location. A strut slidably received within the bracket guideway or channel is connected to the door spring and includes a bolt interconnecting the strut member and a locking nut slidably held in the guideway. The end of a pinch bar or other similar tool is inserted through an opening in the strut member and received within one of a set of openings in the bracket, after which the tool is manipulated to lever the strut to a position placing the spring in the desired amount of tension. While maintaining the spring at the required tension, the bolt in the strut is tightened securing the strut member to the locking nut and thereby fixing the strut member and spring at one position.

6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PMENIED 3.8%6. 1 33 SNEEI 2 0F 2 /35 Flea.

1 DOOR SPRING ANCHORING MEANS This invention relates to garage door springs, and, more particularly, to an anchoring means which is readily affixed to a garage door jamb and connected to such springs while they are maintained in an appropriate amount of tension.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One common form of garage door assembly includes a one-piece door pivotally mounted to the door jamp via spring-loaded lever arms. The springs used for this purpose are steel coil springs which may be fifteen inches or more in length and have a loop diameter of door jamb. Due to the tendency for such springs to break, particularly in the region of the half loops at the end, an advantageous means for connecting to a coil spring of this character was developed and which included a platelike means having portions that were received between adjacent loops in the vicinity of the spring ends and which could be threaded therealong to the desired position. Bolts were connected to the platelike means and included loops at their outer ends for connection to other hardware. Illustrative of the latter type of safety spring just described is that disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,032,329, TENSION SPRING ASSEM- BLY, by John P. Pyka. The apparatus as described herein is useful-for making connections to either original coil springs without accessories or the safety type spring described in the referenced patent.

In the past, one end of each spring was hooked onto a lever arm connected to the door and the other end was normally anchored to the adjacent door jamb via a chain bolted directly to the jamb. When replacement was required, special equipment was necessary in order to stretch the spring (place it in tension) and while so stretched bolt the connecting chain to the jamb. Attempts by the average home owner to replace broken springs of this kind usually met with failure, or were only accomplished with great difficulty, not to mention the hazard of injury from an inadvertently released spring part way through replacement.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an important aim of this invention to provide an improved anchoring assembly for connecting an end of a garage door spring to the door jamb without the need for other than simple tools, and without exposing the assembler to danger from release of the spring.

Another object is the provision of a spring end anchoring assembly which, after being affixed to a supporting structure, is readily adjustable to change the spring tension.

In accordance with this invention, a mounting guideway or channel is secured to a supporting structure (door jamb) by one or more lag bolts at the appropriate location. A strut member slidably received within the bracket guideway or channel is connected to the spring and includes a bolt interconnecting the strut member and nut means slidably held in the guideway. The end of a pinch bar or other similar tool is inserted through an opening in the strut member and received within one of a series of consecutive openings in the bracket, after which the tool levers the strut member to a position placing the spring in the desired amount of tension. While maintaining the spring at the required tension, the bolt in the strut member is tightened securing the strut member to the nut means and thereby fixing the strut member and spring at one position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially sectional, of a garage-door and door jamb with counterbalancing springs connected in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged, sectional, elevational view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational, sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and depicts a safety type spring end connection means interconnected with the anchoring means described herein.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are end elevational, sectional views taken along lines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the strut member and nut means.

FIGS. 8 and 9 depict two frequently encountered original equipment spring end connection means interconnected with the anchoring means described herein.

FIG. 10 shows one form of prior art technique for connecting one end of a garage door spring to a door jamb.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference now to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, a garage door 20, pivotally mounted to an adjacent door jamb 21 via a pair of lever arms 22 and 23, is shown in its open condition where the door is in a generally horizontal disposition at the top of the doorway opening. Specifically, the door 20 is of one-piece construction and is interconnected with the door jamb 21 by the lever arms 22 and 23 being pivotally connected to a mounting plate 24 affixed to the door jamb adjacent the upper reaches of the door space. The outer end of the lever arm 23 is connected via a suitable linkage to the end of one or more coil springs 26. The lower end of the springs 26 is connected via an anchoring means to be described herein to the door jamb 21 adjacent the lower end thereof. Accordingly, in operation, with the door in the open position shown in FIG. 1, the springs 26 are in a condition of slight tension. As the door 20 is swung downwardly into the closed position, the tension in the springs 26 increases. It is clear, however, that for reasons of safety and for controlling the movement of the door 20, that the springs 26 must be in a state of tension throughout the complete range of door movement. Also, although only one set of lever arms 22, 23 and springs 26 is shown, in the usual situation there is a further set at the other side of the door 20 operating in the same manner as that shown with interconnection and assembly being in mirror image.

Reference is now made to FIG. and a typical prior art technique for connecting or anchoring the lower end of springs 26 to the door jamb 21. As shown there, the end of a spring 26 includes an open half loop 27 which receives an S-hook 28 therethrough. The other end of the S-hook 28 passes through an opening 29 in an L-shaped bracket 30 which is secured to the door jamb 21 by a lag bolt 31. It is clear from this structure that in order to mount the entire spring assembly onto the jamb, it is necessary to have special tools or fixtures which will maintain the spring in a slightly extended condition while the L-shaped bracket 30 is being secured to the jamb. Also, after a bracket 30 has been secured in place there is no ready means by which it can be adjusted to increase or decrease spring tension.

With reference now to both FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown there an anchoring assemblage 32 which, in a way that will be described, serves to adjustably affix the lower end of one or more springs 26 to the door jamb 21. The assemblage includes an elongated rectangular mounting plate 33 having a relatively flat center section 34 each side edge of which is turned up forming side walls 35 and 36 parallel to one another, and which terminate in end edges 37 turned inwardly toward each other pointing down towards the central base 34 (FIGS. 4 and 5). A plurality of openings arranged in a mutually spaced line along central region 34 are provided for a purpose to be described.

A strut member 39, seen best in its entirety in FIG. 7, has a flat plate-like body 40 of rectangular construction which opens out into a larger somewhat rectangular plate 41. A pair of upstanding plate supports 42 and 43 of substantially identical geometry are integral with 40 and extend at substantially 90 from the platelike base 40 in a parallel spaced relationship. The free end of 40 is formed at substantially 90 thereto and extends away in a direction opposite to that of the upstanding supports 42 and 43 to form a slide 44 of such dimensions as to permit receipt within the guide channel 33 as shown in FIG. 4. More particularly, the guide 44 is so shaped that it can only be received within the channel 33 from an open end thereof or by inserting at right angles into guide channel 33 and then turning to the position shown in FIG. 4, and once received therein, cannot be removed in a direction normal to the channel.

The strut member plate 41 includes a first opening 45 closely adjacent to the upstanding members 42 and 43 through which a bolt 46 is received during assembly for a purpose to be described. A further opening 47 slightly larger than the opening 46 is for receiving the end of a tool to effect levering adjustment as will be described. The upstanding members 42 and 43 include openings 49 and 50 which are lined up with one another for receiving, respectively, clevis pins 51 and 52 (FIG. 3).

Locking nut means 53 comprises a relatively flat rectangular body member having a threaded central opening 54 and on one major surface a pair of grooves 55 and 56, one at each side of the opening 54 and of a geometry and spacing identical to that of the channel edges 37. That is, on sliding the nut member 53 into the channel guide space, the grooves 55 and 56 will line up and be continuously engageable with the edges 37 as is shown best in FIG. 5. A plurality of raised portions 57 in the grooves 55 and 56 will serve to grippingly engage the edges 37 of the channel in a manner and for a purpose to be described later. A coil spring 58 has a portion thereof received in an accommodating groove 59 in the nut member side opposite that containing the grooves 55 and 56 (FIG. 5).

In assembly of the anchoring means parts prior to connection to one or more springs 26, first the nut member 53 and coil spring attached thereto in the groove 59 is positioned within the space of the channel 33 and slid along to some relatively central location. In this regard refer to both FIGS. 5 and 3. Next, strut member guide 44 is inserted at one end of the channel 33 and slid along a sufficient distance to align the hole 45 with the nut member opening. Finally, the bolt 46 is loosely threaded through the opening 45 into the nut member as shown in elevational view in FIG. 3. The anchoring means is now ready for use.

For use in interconnecting one or more springs 26 to the adjacent door jamb as shown in FIG. 1, the strut member 39 may be either left in the channel 33 or removed. In either case, the S-shaped connector, chain or other usual means for connecting to the end of a spring (see FIGS. 8 and 9 in this regard) will lie at approximately the midpoint of the channel. With this initial approximate location a pair of lag bolts 60 and 61 (FIG. 2) are inserted in the endmost openings 38 of the channel and threaded into the door jamb. Next, the connection means 62 is then received on the half loop end of the spring or springs 26, the extremity of which is connected to the upstanding members 42 and 43, via clevis pins 51 and 52 and which are secured in place by a cotter pin 63, for example (FIG. 3).

For adjusting the springs 26 to the proper amount of tension, the bolt 46 is kept loose and the end of a pinch bar, pry bar, or other similar instrument, is inserted though opening 47 and into an appropriate opening 38 in the guide 34 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Levering manipulation of 48 in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. 3 is then performed to move the strut member downwardly, thereby applying tension to the springs 26. While holding the position of the strut member at a position maintaining tension in the spring, the bolt 46 is then tightened. With the bolt 46 threaded into the nut member 53 sufficiently, this pulls the projections of 57 tightly against the edges 37 of the channel, digging into the metal, thereby securing the nut member and plate 40 of the strut member to the channel and maintaining the end of the springs 26 in a firm anchored relation to the jamb 21.

For replacement in the event of breakage of a spring 26, for example, the pinch bar 48 is once again inserted through opening 47 with its end resting in an opening 38 and while holding this position firmly, the bolt 46 is released. The entire strut member and retained spring is now allowed to slide upwardly, releasing the tension in the spring. It is necessary while doing this that the door 20 be blocked open in some manner, since otherwise it would be free to swing downwardly on release of the springs. Next the cotter pins 63 and associated clevis pin 51 or 52 are removed and the spring replaced with adjustment and setting of tension in the new spring being accomplished as described before.

There is provided, in the practice of this invention, a means for easily replacing a broken garage door spring, either of the conventional coil spring with connections made thereto directly via the spring loops, or the safety spring described in the referenced patent. In either case, the new spring has one end connected to the door assembly and the other end to the means described herein Then, by simply locating the connection means to the door jamb at the approximate final position, the connection means is then levered into final position, applying the proper amount of tension to the door springs with final anchoring provided by a bolt threaded into a lock nut.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for connecting the end of a garage door coil spring to a door jamb while maintaining the spring in tension, comprising:

mounting plate means having a plurality of spaced openings arranged in a line and a portion of said plate means being formed into a guide channel in opposed relationship to said openings;

at least one screw means being received through a mounting plate means opening and securing said plate means to said door jamb; nut means slidably received within said guide channel and having a threaded opening therein;

connection bracket means having certain parts to which said spring connects and other parts slidably received and retained within said channel, said bracket means having a first opening for accommodating a bolt therethrough for threaded receipt in said nut means opening and a second opening through which a tool is inserted and into one of said mounting plate means openings for levering the bracket means along the guide channel and placing said spring in tension after which the bolt is further threaded into the nut means locking the bracket means to the mounting plate means.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, in which said bracket means certain parts include a pair of upstanding members joined by removable pin means to which the spring is connected.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1, in which said mounting plate means includes an elongated rectangular platelike body, the longitudinal marginal edges of which are formed at substantially ninety degrees to said platelike body, with the edges being still further formed inwardly and directed toward the platelike body, said marginal edges forming the guide channel.

4. Apparatus for anchoring the end of a garage door coil spring to the door jamb while the other spring end is interconnected with the door, comprising:

an elongated platelike body, the longitudinal marginal edges of which are formed into upstanding sidewalls and the outer edges of which sidewalls are formed inwardly toward each other, forming a guide channel, said platelike body including a plurality of spaced openings extending longitudinally of said body;

means inserted through at least one of the openings in the body and affixing the platelike body to the door jamb;

nut means slidably received and retained within said guide channel and having a threaded opening therein;

bracket means having certain parts to which said spring connects and other parts slidably received within said channel, said bracket means having a first opening for accommodating a bolt therethrough to be threaded in said nut means opening and a second opening via which a tool is inserted through said bracket means second opening and into one of said mounting plate means openings for levering the bracket means along the guide channel to place said spring in predetermined tension, after which the bolt is further threaded into the nut means locking the bracket means to the mounting plate means.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4, in which one side of the nut means includes a pair of grooves that engage the respective sidewall edges.

6. Apparatus for securing the end of a garage door coil spring to a fixed support while maintaining the spring in a predetermined amount of tension, comprismg:

mounting plate means including a guide channel, said plate means having a plurality of openings arranged in a line along said channel;

bolt means received through at least one opening in said mounting plate means securing it to the door jamb;

a locking member slidably received within said channel; and

connection strut means having a first part slidably received within said guide channel, a second part upstanding from the guide channel when said first part is received therein, and a third part having a first opening through which means are inserted and movably secured to said locking member and a second opening for accommodating a tool for levering said strut means to a predetermined position and tensioning the spring and maintaining said position while said means are fixedly secured in said first opening to said locking mimbker. 

1. Apparatus for connecting the end of a garage door coil spring to a door jamb while maintaining the spring in tension, comprising: mounting plate means having a plurality of spaced openings arranged in a line and a portion of said plate means being formed into a guide channel in opposed relationship to said openings; at least one screw means being received through a mounting plate means opening and securing said plate means to said door jamb; nut means slidably received within said guide channel and having a threaded opening therein; connection bracket means having certain parts to which said spring connects and other parts slidably received and retained within said channel, said bracket means having a first opening for accommodating a bolt therethrough for threaded receipt in said nut means opening and a second opening through which a tool is inserted and into one of said mounting plate means openinGs for levering the bracket means along the guide channel and placing said spring in tension after which the bolt is further threaded into the nut means locking the bracket means to the mounting plate means.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1, in which said bracket means certain parts include a pair of upstanding members joined by removable pin means to which the spring is connected.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 1, in which said mounting plate means includes an elongated rectangular platelike body, the longitudinal marginal edges of which are formed at substantially ninety degrees to said platelike body, with the edges being still further formed inwardly and directed toward the platelike body, said marginal edges forming the guide channel.
 4. Apparatus for anchoring the end of a garage door coil spring to the door jamb while the other spring end is interconnected with the door, comprising: an elongated platelike body, the longitudinal marginal edges of which are formed into upstanding sidewalls and the outer edges of which sidewalls are formed inwardly toward each other, forming a guide channel, said platelike body including a plurality of spaced openings extending longitudinally of said body; means inserted through at least one of the openings in the body and affixing the platelike body to the door jamb; nut means slidably received and retained within said guide channel and having a threaded opening therein; bracket means having certain parts to which said spring connects and other parts slidably received within said channel, said bracket means having a first opening for accommodating a bolt therethrough to be threaded in said nut means opening and a second opening via which a tool is inserted through said bracket means second opening and into one of said mounting plate means openings for levering the bracket means along the guide channel to place said spring in predetermined tension, after which the bolt is further threaded into the nut means locking the bracket means to the mounting plate means.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 4, in which one side of the nut means includes a pair of grooves that engage the respective sidewall edges.
 6. Apparatus for securing the end of a garage door coil spring to a fixed support while maintaining the spring in a predetermined amount of tension, comprising: mounting plate means including a guide channel, said plate means having a plurality of openings arranged in a line along said channel; bolt means received through at least one opening in said mounting plate means securing it to the door jamb; a locking member slidably received within said channel; and connection strut means having a first part slidably received within said guide channel, a second part upstanding from the guide channel when said first part is received therein, and a third part having a first opening through which means are inserted and movably secured to said locking member and a second opening for accommodating a tool for levering said strut means to a predetermined position and tensioning the spring and maintaining said position while said means are fixedly secured in said first opening to said locking member. 